Sports talk radio often is redundant.“Why hasn't Rob Chudzinski named Brandon Weeden the starting quarterback? We want to hear from you!”Sports talk radio often is annoying.“Can you believe Chudzinski? Brandon Weeden has been the NFL's best quarterback this preseason!”Sports talk radio often is effective at driving listeners to satellite radio.”Seriously, Chud! What is going on here? We need answers!”But sports talk radio, when done right, is compelling, especially here.If there ever was a city perfectly suited for sports talk radio, it's Cleveland.Browns, Cavaliers, Indians.LeBron James, heartbreak, quarterback controversies, front office overhauls, constant coaching changes, more heartbreak — we've got it all.There is so much to talk about we have two sports talk stations — WKNR-AM, 850 and WKRK-FM, 92.3, the latter of which launched in August 2011.Tuesday, the former had a day that will be difficult to forget, for all of the wrong reasons.WKNR not only fired three of its best on-air personalities in Will Burge, Kenny Roda and T.J. Zuppe, it did so by pretending as if nothing happened and with station management not responding to any media inquiries.

And why Michael Reghi?The latter's exit from the station — like that of Burge, Roda and Zuppe — hasn't been announced, but multiple sources have told Crain's that Reghi will remain a part of the Browns' radio network, but won't continue to host a night-time show for WKNR.All of which means “Cleveland Sports Night” — which featured Reghi and Roda from 9 p.m. to midnight on weekdays — is kaput.The same might be said for “3 Deep,” the show that preceded “Cleveland Sports Night” and for which Burge served as the traffic cop for co-stars Je'Rod Cherry and Emmett Golden.“I'm not sure what they're doing,” Burge said. “They're obviously overhauling the evening shows.”That was evident Tuesday night, the day the departures were first announced by three of the hosts on Twitter (Reghi has yet to address his status on Twitter, aside from thanking a well-wisher).WKNR had no original programming after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, aside from its late-night “10th Inning” show.“3 Deep” was replaced by a “best of” broadcast, and ESPN Radio programming took the place of “Cleveland Sports Night.”It made a dark day for the station seem even more bleak.

Staying classy to the end

Burge, Roda and Zuppe were three of WKNR's top on-air personalities.They also are very adept at taking the high road.

Burge and Zuppe even complimented ESPN Cleveland management for all of the flattering things the higher-ups had to say about the hosts — as they were being fired.“They couldn't have been nicer about it, which is weird to say,” Burge said. “I started six years ago as an intern and was blessed to have those guys on my side. I've proud of the work I've done.”Burge, Roda and Zuppe all prefer to remain in Cleveland, but if they want to stay in radio, their options obviously are limited.Burge believes the scoops he uncovered as one of ESPN Cleveland's Browns reporters — the Joe Haden suspension story being one of the best — will help him find work elsewhere.“I've always wondered how I would be received outside WKNR,” he said. “The feedback has been overwhelming. I already fielded calls from people around town, so I think I would imagine (finding something) sooner rather than later. The Browns reporting is where people seem to be most interested in my work.”

Hosts 'not at liberty' to discuss turmoil

The WKNR personality who seemed most likely to address the upheaval — Bruce Hooley, an outspoken host and an excellent reporter during his tenure at The Plain Dealer — didn't discuss his former colleagues during “The Hooligans” on Tuesday afternoon.Hooley certainly heard plenty from his more than 10,000 Twitter followers.During Tuesday's show, he tweeted, “I understand and respect what many of you would like me to discuss. Please understand I am not at liberty to do so.”

Greg Brinda — who shared the mic with Hooley and Zuppe during previous broadcasts of “The Hooligans” — wasn't on Tuesday's show, but did host the late-night “10th Inning” broadcast.He replied to @CanofCorn24 on Twitter, telling the fan, who questioned why WKNR's hosts weren't talking about the firings, his words were “spoken by someone who has no clue about the business!”

The WKNR host who said the most was Golden — not on the air, but on Twitter (of course).“Sad day seeing my best friends let go.” Golden tweeted. “I learned a ton from all of them. I'm sure they will land on their feet. Keep ur heads up! Smh”Multiple sources have said Good Karma Broadcasting president and CEO Craig Karmazin is in town and will address ESPN Cleveland's entire staff this afternoon.Stay tuned for further developments.You can follow me on Twitter for sports information, analysis and, hopefully, an explanation from ESPN Cleveland management.

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